On Thursday evening, the member states of the European Union and the European Parliament came to an agreement that would, by the year 2035, put an end to the sale of newly manufactured automobiles that are powered by internal combustion engines. Only vehicles that run entirely on electricity, batteries, or hydrogen will be permitted.
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| [ID 3 electric car of Volkswagen] |
A "landmark decision" made by the European Union (EU) with regard to the environment. This is how French Member of the European Parliament Pascal Canfin, who is also the chairman of the Environment Committee, described the agreement that was reached this Thursday evening in Brussels on putting an end to the sale of new thermal engine vehicles by the year 2035, following the conclusion of the final round of negotiations. Frans Timmermans, Vice-President of the European Commission and in charge of the "Green Deal" initiative for the European Union, expressed his satisfaction with a deal that "sends a strong signal to business and consumers."
The European Commission has assigned itself the task of bringing the amount of CO2 emissions produced by new automobiles sold in 2035 down to the same level as those produced in 2021. A project that was given the go light by the European Parliament in June.
Due to the present state of technology, this practically translates to banning diesel and gasoline automobiles as of this date, as well as hybrid models, and only authorizing cars that are either completely electric, battery-powered, or hydrogen-powered.
This target of having 100% zero-emission cars by 2035 with intermediate phases in 2025 and 2030 is confirmed in the final language of the agreement that was agreed on Thursday between MEPs and the Member States of the Union.
A exemption that allows small manufacturers to avoid the restrictions on harmful emissions will remain in effect until the year 2036, provided that the firms sell less than 10,000 vehicles annually. Luxury sports car manufacturers that are hesitant to switch to electric powertrains, such as Ferrari, Bentley, or Lamborghini, will profit from having more time to get their operations up and running.
The legislation also opens the ground for the formation of a transition fund for the automotive industry by the year 2025, with the goal of assisting the equipment makers who would be most negatively impacted by these changes as well as providing assistance to workers in the sector. A preventative measure that received significant support from the European Parliament in order to lessen the likelihood of unfavorable effects on the labor market. According to the Association of European Manufacturers, the automobile sector is responsible for the direct or indirect employment of more than 13 million people throughout Europe.